Chevy badges and models during the 1950s

Wednesday

Sep 25, 2013 at 12:36 PM

Q: Greg, I enjoy the articles about the cars in the '50s and '60s, and would like some clarification on Chevy models. I know it all ended up as Biscayne, BelAir and Impala for the full-size Chevys in the late '50s, but when did the Bel Air come out and what other models were noteworthy leading up to the final three I mentioned. Thanks much, Hank. L., Massachusetts.

Q: Greg, I enjoy the articles about the cars in the '50s and '60s, and would like some clarification on Chevy models. I know it all ended up as Biscayne, BelAir and Impala for the full-size Chevys in the late '50s, but when did the Bel Air come out and what other models were noteworthy leading up to the final three I mentioned. Thanks much, Hank. L., Massachusetts.

A: Hank, I'd be glad to help, as I've always been a fan of the Chevy model names. The BelAir came to market in 1950 as a new hardtop coupe with no "B Pillar." The Powerglide automatic transmission we've spoken of before also became available that year, too. The main models in 1950 were the Fleetline Fastback and Styleline models.

From 1953 through 1957, Chevy introduced the 150 and 210 series to replace Fleetline and Styleline, but kept the popular BelAir name as it was the most popular model in the Chevy lineup. The big announcement in 1955 was Chevy's new 265-inch V8 engine, which would go on to engine immortality and is still utilized today in a greatly evolved form. The Delray was available from 1954 through 1957 as a trim upgrade on the 210 series.

In 1958, Chevy marketing dropped the 150 and 210 monikers, and kept Delray as a stand alone (lowest price), followed by Biscayne, BelAir and flagship Impala. Joining the engine lineup was a new 348-inch big block V-8, available from 250 horses to a three two-barrel carb producing 315 horses for the "go faster" crowd.

It should also be noted that the 1958 Impala was actually a BelAir upgrade option, and these cars are in reality BelAir Impalas. By 1959, Chevy allowed Impala to stand on its own, and it became the best selling car in America for many years to come.

In 1959, the Delray name was dropped after just one year, and Biscayne, BelAir and Impala models were the final choices.

I also enjoyed the names of the Chevy station wagons during the later years of the decade, as the Kingswood, (four-door, nine-passenger), Parkwood (four-door, six-passenger) and Brookwood (two-door, or four-door, six-passenger) corresponded with Impala, BelAir and Biscayne trim, respectively. The Nomad station wagon, meanwhile, was still around in 1958 and 1959, but to this day does not have much collector value like the 1955 to 1957 Nomads did, the latter which were all two-door models available with powerful, even fuel-injected, small block engines.

It sure was a great decade for Chevy nomenclature, and also for performance. Thanks for your letter and best to you.